A's Grab Wuertz and his Slider, but the Fastball is Also Included

by Harry Pavlidis on Feb 2, 2009 4:00 PM EST

Jim Hendry probably decided now was the time to trade Michael Wuertz, with his value bound to decrease if he struggles in Spring Training. Out of options, and due $2 million, the Cubs only got two middling prospects in exchange.

Wuertz can be effective and has a top notch slider, but his fastball has not done the job.

cfx	#	mph
CH	76	84.8
CU	27	81.1
FA	372	92.0
SL	774	86.9

Drilling in on fastball/slider - these flight paths show a nice overlapping plane. These are aggregate pitches, but do show the potential effectiveness/deception, when that slider comes in sweeping and sinking - not tailing like the fastball. I split them by batter hand and season, same results, with subtle differences.

Wuertz's slider was very impressive. Over 50% found the 24-inch wide "as played" strike zone, yet it yielded a whiff rate of .395. The slider was chased over 37% of the time it traveled out of the zone, which helped that whiff rate and the nkSLG (.399).

The problem with Wuertz was the fastball. We're not talking a huge problem, but a notable weakeness. His velocity was OK, not great (although he may have lost a little since 2007), but his control is another story. Wuertz struggled in that area, ending up with a B:CS ratio of 3.4 on his fastball. That's about 1.5 balls more than an average fastball, and, amazingly, 1.2 more than his own slider. His fastball was also hit hard (nkSLG=.681). This combination probably drove Lou Piniella nuts.

Just how much more effective was the slider? On two-strike pitches, Wuertz's slider put hitters away nearly 1 in 4 (.229). The fastball - just over 1 in 20 (.055). Even on first pitches, the slider was more effective. 15% of Wuertz's first pitch fastballs were put in play (or out of it). When the batter didn't end the at bat in a first pitch fastball, Wuertz found himself behind more often than not (1.4:1).

With the first pitch slider, the ball was put in play less than half as often (6.9%). In terms of getting ahead, the ratio was reversed, 0.47:1. When throwing a slider on an 0-0 count, Wuertz wound up with an 0-1 advantage far more often than with a fastball (.636 vs. .355).

Wuertz can't put guys away with the fastball, and he can't get ahead, either. Maybe he sets-up the slider with it, but that may be generous. It is rather difficult to set-up a first pitch slider, unless by reputation.

If Oakland can get Wuertz to spot the heater better, whether it be in terms of location or sequence, that slider will be as tough, if not tougher, than it has been in during his Cub years.

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Comments

"Middling prospects" is pushing it

unless by that you mean “Midland” prospects, as in Midland RockHounds…

I’d characterize Sellers and Robnett as organization players or, at best, fringe prospects.

Many years from now, when his name's recalled
Everyone will say, "He should have passed the ball"
-- Al Stewart, "Football Hero"

by PaulThomas on Feb 2, 2009 4:32 PM EST reply actions

if Sellers learns how to hit at all

he could have some kind of MLB value. Not that it’d be anything greater than Wuertz’s value, but value nonetheless.

That said, I think that Beane made a good trade to get a strikeout reliever (sans last year) to shore up the bullpen at a ridiculous price. Worst case scenario is that one of either Robnett or Sellers is a backup MLB player and Wuertz tanks. Best case scenario is Wuertz is an awesome reliever and Robnett/Sellers continue on their nonprospect paths.

"I'm on hold for now"- Bobby Crosby

by DyeLongJustice on Feb 2, 2009 6:41 PM EST up reply actions

I'm still not over how much a fastball actually moves.

In Wuertz’s graph, it’s almost like the slider is straight. And if I remember correctly, Mariano’s cutter is almost exactly straight. Batters just must be so used to adjusting to the tail on a fastball that straight pitches seem to curve away a bunch. Sort of like a “rising fastball” just not falling as much.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Feb 3, 2009 12:12 PM EST reply actions